Automatic lead seal casting machine



Feb. 24, 1953 w. R. SCOTT AUTOMATIC LEAD SEAL CASTING MACHINE 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 27, 1948 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM'R. COTT I 8 .AflJ/SWEL i; F x

Feb. 24, 1953 I w. R. SCOTT 2,529,150

AUTOMATIC LEAD SEAL. CASTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 27, 1948 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 II, I I30 3| B5 GEAR q REoucTmN U an INVENTOR. WmuAMR. 1"!

Feb. 24, 1953 w. R. SCOTT 2,629,150

AUTOMATIC LEAD SEAL CASTING MACHINE filed Nov. 27, 1948 10 Sheets-Sheet I:

INVENTOR.

\XTILLIAM R 5Com Feb. 24, 1953 w. R. SCOTT AUTOMATIC LEAD SEAL CASTING MACHINE 1O Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 27, 1948 INVENTOR. \x/muAMR. SCOTT Feb. 24, 1953 w. R. SCOTT 2,629,150

AUTOMATIC LEAD SEAL CASTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 2'7, 1948 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 g m. i mu In 64 53 k \\\\\\R\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \3 K -l6'1 i I85 G4-**- 5 INVENTOR.

. WILLIAM R. ScQ'r-r ff9.fi BY Q AMJfiA/E'Y Feb. 24, 1953 w. R. SCOTT AUTOMATIC LEAD SEAL. CASTING MACHINE 1O Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Nov. 2'7, 1948 lllll'ulllllllfn' JNVENTOR. MLLIAM R. Scou- Feb. 24, 1953 w. R. SCOTT 2,529,150

AUTOMATIC LEAD SEAL CASTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 27, 1948 1O Sheets-Sheet 7 I: E' l- Z t INVEN K67 U ea MLLIAM R. OTT @Lea I BY W. R. SCOTT AUTOMATIC LEAD SEAL CASTING MACHINE Feb. 24, 1953 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed NOV. 27, 1948 WNW? P M MQN NTN ram 3n n A I INVENTOR. \xftumAm R. s ow'r HIV/7N N-k u Feb. 24, 1953 w. R. SCOTT 2,629,150

AUTOMATIC LEAD SEAL CASTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 27, 1948 l0 Sheets-Sheet 9 zas 2 i zza 1 129. ED. 220 7 INVENTOR.

' WILLIAM R. SCOTT Feb. 24, 1953 w. R. SCOTT 2,629,150

AUTOMATIC LEAD SEAL CASTING MACHINE Filed NOV. 27, 1948 10 Sheets-Sheet 1O IN V EN TOR.

MLLIAM R Sco'r'r Patented Feb. 24, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC LEAD SEAL CASTING MACHINE William R. Scott, Greene, N. Y.

Application November 27, 1948, Serial No. 62,400

12 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a lead casting machine, the molds for use on such a machine and the lead members cast on such a machine.

Prior to the present invention all lead casting has been tediously done by hand at greatly increased costs to both the manufacturer and the ultimate consumer. Machines are known which were designed for the casting of other metals; such as, copper, bronze and the like, and lead was included in the list of metals which could be cast upon such machines. However, attempts to cast lead objects on those prior art casting machines have proven unsuccessful as the casting of lead presents certain specific problems not encountered in the casting of those other metals and which problems were not taken into account in the construction of those prior art machines.

The present invention relates specifically to the construction of an automatic casting machine designed primarily for the casting of objects of lead which overcomes the objections of the prior art casting machines permitting lead objects to be quickly and easily cast with a minimum of attention on the part of the operator of the machine.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a fully automatic casting machine for the production of lead seals for use by the utility companies for sealing gas and electric meters and by the U. S. Post Office Department for sealing bags of registered and other valuable mail. While the present invention is concerned chiefly with the casting of lead seals it is by no means limited to such use as the machine is equally well adapted to the casting of other small objects of lead merely by interchanging the molds used on the casting machine.

Experimentation which led to the development of the casting machine of the present invention clearly disclosed that the successful casting of lead objects in a machine of the present invention is dependent upon introducing the molten lead into the mold when the mold is neither too hot nor too cold. For if the mold is too hot, the molten lead is further heated Within the cavity of the mold instead of setting immediately, and if the mold is too cold, the molten lead sets too rapidly and in each case the surface of the cast object, when removed from the mold, is irregular and interrupted by small teats which form on the surface thereof.

The present invention proposes to overcome those objections by providing a head for rotation in a vertical plane and provided about its periph- 2 cry with a plurality of like molds, preferably twelve in number, with means for introducing the molten lead into the cavity of the topmost mold of the rotatable head and for removing the cast object from the mold at a point four molds removed from the mold into which the molten lead is being introduced in a manner so that for the major portion of each complete revolution of the rotatable head, the molds are idl and cooling between the ejection of one lead object and the refilling of the mold for the casting of the next lead object.

Another object of the present invention proposes the provision of a Vertically movable charging valve disposed above the topmost mold of the rotatable head and in axial alignment with its mold cavity and formed at the lower end thereof with a discharge opening arranged in a manner to seat over the mold cavity of the topmost mold when the charging valve is lowered.

A further object of the present invention proposes providing the charging valve with a slida-bly mounted valve plunger normally closing the discharge opening of the charging valve and which is operated in timed synchronism with the lifting and lowering of the charging valve in a manner to open the discharge opening when the charging valve is in a lowered position on the topmost mold to deliver a predetermined quantity of molten lead to the mold cavity of the topmost mold.

Still further, the present invention proposes a novel means for rotating the head and for lifting and lowering the charging valve in timed synchronism with each other in a manner so that the head will be rotated to successively align the molds thereof with the charging valve while the charging valve is in its raised position. I

Another object of the present invention proposes novel means for connecting the charging valve with a pot of molten lead which is pivotally supported in a manner to permit slight vertical movement of the charging valve relative to the rotatable head and to convey the molten lead from the pot to the molds.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide the machine with strategically located heaters for melting the lead placed in the pot and for retaining the molten lead at a proper casting temperature during its transit from the pot to the molds.

The present invention also proposes the provision of a novel wire feed mechanism operated in timed synchronism with the rotation of .said head and arranged in a manner to feed the end of a length of wire partially into the mold cavity oi": the topmost mold prior to the introduction of the molten lead in a manner so that as the molten lead cools the length of wire will become anchored in the cast object.

It is proposed to characterize the wire feed mechanism by the fact that it is capable of drawing the wire from a continuous source and automatically cutting it to the proper preselected length and feed the end of the cut-off length into the mold cavities and by the fact that it is adjustable to feed wires of any desired length into the mold cavities.

The present invention also proposes that the rotatable head be provided on its periphery with a plurality of molds which are removably attached thereto in a manner to be removable. to be interchanged with other molds having, difierently shaped mold cavities.

Still another object of the present invention proposesthe' provision of a novel means for pulling outwards on the mold cores after the molten lead has had a chance to set suificiently within the mold cavity and prior to ejection of the cast object from the mold cavity, so'that the cast object will be free to be automatically ejected fromthe" mold cavity.

They present invention further proposes the provision of a novel means for restoring the mold cores to their positions in which the core fingers traverse the mold cavities prior to refilling the mold cavity in a manner so that the fingers will be in position to form the aligned passages in the next cast object.

It is a. still further object of the present invention to construct a lead casting machine which is entirely automatic in its operation, which is simple and durable and which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention,

and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appendedv claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the lead jseal casting machine constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an. end elevational view of the casting. machine looking from the right-hand side of. Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed view of a portion. of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4'-4 of Fig." 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3 showing one side of the rotating head assembly in elevation.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3 showing the other side of the rotating head assembly in elevation.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view through the rotating head assembly taken on the line 1. 1 of'Fig. 5.

tion of one of the mold cores, per se, of the 1:0- tating head assembly.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a seal cast in the mold shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 13 is a plan view of the seal provided with a cord or wire.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the charging valve, per se.

Fig. 15 is an. enlarged detailed view of a portion of Fig. 14 showing a different position of the parts.

Fig. 16 is a sectional view taken on the line l6l6 of Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is avertical sectional view taken on the line I'Ei'|' of Fig. 14.

Fig. 18 is an enlarged front elevational view of thewire-.feed mechanism per se.

Fig. 19 is a plan view of the wire feed head of the wire feed mechanism.

Fig. 20 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the wire cutter and wire feed head taken on the line-2fi20 of Fig. 18.

Fig. 21 is an enlarged detailed view of a portion of the wire feed head shown in Fig. 18, but illustrating a different position of the parts.

Fig. 22 is a perspective view of the wire feed tube member of the wire feed head.

Fig. 23 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of one of the cutting blades of the wire cutter;

Fig. 24 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the other of the cutting blades of the wire cutter.

Fig. 25 is a vertical sectional view of the wire guide taken on the line 2525 of Fig. 18.

Fig. 26 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of a portion of the wire. guide taken on the. line 25-26 of Fig. 25.

Fig. 27 is an enlarged side elevational view of the wire gripper, per se, taken on the line 2'!-2'l of Fig. 18.

Fig. 28 is a developed plan view similar to Fig. 9, but illustrating a modified form of mold for use on the rotating head assembly.

Fig. 29 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of one of the molds shown in Fig. 28.

Fig. 30 is a perspective view of a lead seal cast in the mold shown in Figs. 28 and 29.

Fig. 31 is a plan view of the lead seal with the wire threaded in operative position.

Fig. 32 is a partial perspective view similar to Fig..29., but. illustrating a mold for casting a dif. ferent type of aleadseal.

Fig. 33 is a perspective view of a lead seal. cast in the. mold shown in. Fig. 32.

Fig. 34 is a plan view of the seal shown. in Fig. 33 with a cord threaded inoperative position.

The automatic lead casting machine, according to the present invention, includes a frame having a plurality of vertical legs 5| supporting a top frame member 52 at about waist level. Rested upon the top frame member 52 at one end of the frame 50 there is a plate 53 retained in position by one or more angle irons 54, see Fig. 1.

A head 55 is rotatably mounted on the frame 50. The head 55 is comprised of a hollow casing 56 having an open side closed by a removable disc 51 removably secured in position by several bolts 58. The head 55 is rotative upon a fixed shaft 59, see Figs. 5 and 7, which has its ends mounted in blocks 60. The shaft 59 is held against rotation by a bolt 6| threadedly engaged through one of the blocks 60 and engaging an opening 62 formed in the adjacent end of the shaft 59.

The blocks 50 are adjustably mounted for adjusting the vertical position of the fixed shaft 59 and in turn the vertical position of the head 55. This adjustable mounting is characterized by threaded shanks 63 which depend from the blocks 60 and which freely pass through complementary openings formed in the plate 53. Lock nuts 64 are threaded on the shanks 53 above and below the plate 59 for holding the shanks 53 and in turn the blocks 50 in desired adjusted positions relative to the top face of the plate 53.

The head 55 is thus rotatively supported to rotate in a vertical plane and has its periphery formed with a plurality of flat surfaces 55, see Fig. 8, upon each of which a mold 66 is mounted. Each of the molds 66 is alike in construction and each includes a mold cavity 67 and is releasably attached to its respective flat surface 65 of the head 55 by means of several removable screws 68. This removable mounting of the molds 55 permits the molds in use to be removed and interchanged with molds having mold cavities 6? of different shapes for molding differently shaped lead objects.

In the embodiment of the present invention shown on the drawings, the head 55 is illustrated as provided on its periphery with twelve fiat sur-- faces 65 and twelve molds 66; however, this is by way of illustration only, as the head may be provided with any desired number of fiat surfaces 65 and corresponding molds 65. Experimentation has shown that the machine is more favorable in operation if the head 55 is provided with twelve molds 65, but machines have been successfully operated with heads having more and less molds than twelve, but in each instance the number of molds has been a multiple of two, such as, eight, ten or twelve; or a multiple of four, such as, eight, twelve or sixteen.

Disposed above the head 55, in axial alignment with the mold cavity 61 of the topmost mold es of the head 55, there is a charging valve 59 designed to fill the mold cavities 5'! of the mold 55 with a predetermined quantity of molten lead. The charging valve 69 is characterized by a vertical tubular valve casing in formed at its lower end with a discharge opening l l see Fig. 15, which is adapted to seat over the mold cavity 5! of the topmost mold 56 in the lowered position of the charging valve 59. A pipe 12 extends radially from the side of the Valve casing '10 intermediate of its height and connects with the interior of the valve casing, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 14. The free end of the pipe 12 is connected to the side of a pct '13 for molten lead. The pipe 12 connects the valve casing iii of the charging valve 69 to the pot l3 and conveys the molten lead from the pot 13 to the charging valve 59 to be discharged into the mold cavities 52' of the molds 65.

A gas burner i l, see Figs. 2 and 4, is disposed on the plate 53 beneath the pct 13 for melting bulk lead placed in the pct 13 through the open top thereof. Similar gas burners l5 and it are mounted beneath the pipe 12 and along the sides of the valve casing Mi, respectively, for retaining the molten lead at the proper casting temperature while in transit between the pot l3 and the charging Valve 59. Suitable flexible hoses l? are provided for conveying the required gas from a source to the gas burners l4, l5 and E5.

The pot i3 is pivotally supported to the rear of the head 55 to permit the required vertical movement of the charging valve 59 to seat and unseat the discharge opening ll of the charging valve- 59 relative to the mold cavity 61 of the topmost mold 66. To accomplish this pivotal mounting of the pct 13, trunnions 18 extend from diametrically opposite sides of the pct 13 and have their ends rotatively supported in bearing blocks 15. At the rear of the machine, certain of the legs 56 have ends 5 l extended vertically upwards beyond the top of the frame 58. Adjustably mounted on the front faces of the upwardly extended ends 55 of the legs 51 there are plates upon which the bearing blocks it are fixedly mounted. The top and bottom ends of the plates are formed with vertically arranged elongated slots at and clamp bolts 82 pass through the elongated slots 8! and threadedly engage the upwardly projected ends 5! of the legs 5|. Thus, the position of the plates 85 may be adjusted vertically on the front faces of the upwardly projected ends 5% to slightly adjust the position of the pot T5 and the charging valve (55 to agree with vertical adjustments of the rotatable head 55.

Slidably disposed within the valve casing 15 of the charging valve 69, there is a valve plunger 63 formed at its lower end with a reduced portion 33 see Fig. 15, which enters and closes the discharge opening ?i of the valve casing 10 in the lowered position of the valve plunger 83, as shown in Fig. 14. The valve plunger 83 is of a crosssectional diameter less than the inside diameter of the valve casing '15 and the valve plunger 83 is retained in a position coaxial of the inside of the valve casing it by vertically spaced groups of spaced radial lugs 84, see Figs. 14 to 16, formed on the inside of the valve casing ill and which bear against the sides of the valve plunger 33. The top end of the valve plunger 83 is slidably extended through a cap 55 threaded into the top end of the valve casing 15.

Drive means 85 is provided for lowering the charging valve 65 into facial contact with the topmost mold 55 and for lifting the valve plunger 83 to open the discharge opening ll of the charging valve 69 to deliver a controlled quantity of molten lead to the topmost mold 65 of the head 55 and for then closing the charging valve 69 and for raising the charging valve 69 back to its starting position. In the raised position of the charging valve, the drive means 85 then functions to advance the head 55 a distance equal to the space between adjacent molds 56 to align the next mold 536 of the head 55 with the discharge opening ll of the charging valve 59.

The drive means 85 comprises an electric motor 87 mounted on a shelf 88 mounted on certain of the legs 53 of the frame 5%] beneath the plate 53. The driven shaft 39 of the motor 87 is connected to a gear reduction unit mounted on the shelf 88 alongside of the electric motor 87. The driven shaft 94 of the gear reduction unit 95 carries a pulley 92 engaged by a continuous belt 93. Mounted on the endmost legs 5i, at a point above the shelf 38, there is a second shelf 94 supported on several brackets 95 which extend laterally from the side of the legs 5|. Mounted on the shelf 5 there is a pair of spaced brackets 96 which rotatively support the ends of a horizontal shaft ill which has interposed therein a conventionally constructed frictional slip clutch 98 which divides the shaft Q'i into two halves. A pulley 59 is fixedly mounted on the shaft 9'! on one side of the clutch 93 and has the belt 93 passing thereover to drive the shaft 9! when the pulley 52 rotates.

Mounted on the shaft 91 on the side of the clutch 93 opposite the pulley 99, there is a sprocket wheel Hill engaged by a continuous chain IOI'. The chain IIII engages a second sprocket wheel I02 mounted on a shaft I93. disposed above the plate 53. The shaft I03 is rotatively supported intermediate of its ends in a bearing I04 mounted on the top face of the plate 53 and has its front end rotatively supported in a bearing block I95 mounted on the side of a support I96 which extends vertically from the top face of the plate 53.

The front end of the shaft I93 carries a sprocket wheel I! engaged by a continuous chain I08. The diametrically opposite side of the sprocket chain I98 engages a sprocket wheel I99 mounted on the, front end of a stud shaft H9. The. stud shaft. I I9 is rotatively supported intermediate of its ends upon a support I I I by means of a bearing block; 2'. The support III extends vertically from the plate 53 to one side of the support I96 and extends parallel thereto. A diagonal brace H3 extends between the to end of the support I96 and the adjacent side of the support III connecting the supports I96 and III together for greater rigidity.

The rear end of the stud shaft III) carries a lifting and lowering cam II4 for lifting and lowering the charging valve 69 as the stud shaft Iii) is rotated. The cam II4 bears against a roller II5 rotatively supported between the arms of a forked member II! by means of a pin IIG, see Figs. 14 and 17. The forked member II! is fixedly mounted on the upper end of a shank II8 which has threaded engagement with a lug II9 which extends laterally from the side of the valve casing I9 on the side diametrically opposite the pipe I2. A nut I29 on the threaded shank H8 is arranged to be tightened against the top face of the lug II9 for securing the threaded shank in various vertical adjusted positions relative to the lug I I9.

An expansion spring I2I has its top end engaged about the lower end of the threaded shank H8 and disposed in a recess I22, see Fig. 14, formed in the bottom face of the lug II9 about the lower end of the threaded shank H8. The bottom end of the expansion spring I2I rests in a cup-shaped member I23 integrally formed on the top end of a short threaded bar I24 which has threaded engagement with 2. lug I25 which extends laterally and then rearwards from the side of the vertical support III. The expansion spring I2I thus exerts an upward push on the lug II9 retaining the roller H5 in facial contact with the cam I I4 and the lower end of the charg ing valve 69 out of contact with the topmost mold 66 of the head 55.

As clearly shown. in Fig. 17, the cam H4 is formed with a high part I I4 arranged to ride on the roller II5 to press downwards on the lug I59 against the action of the expansion spring I 2! to lower the charging valve 69 and engage its lower end onto the top face of the topmost mold 66 as shown in Fig. 15. When the cam II4 turns to a. position in which its low part is again engaging the roller I I5, the expansion spring I2I will urge the charging valve 69 back to its starting position shown in Fig. 14.

A second stud shaft I25 is rotatively supported in a bearing block I26 mounted on the support III above the bearing block H2. The front end of the top stud shaft I25 carries a gear I2I which meshes with a second gear I28 mounted on the lower stud shaft II9, between its bearing block H2 and the sprocket wheel I99. The gears I21 and I28 act to rotate the top stud shaft I25 in timed relation. to the lower stud shaft Hi3.v

Mounted on the rear end of the stud shaft I25 there is a cam I29 for lifting and. lowering the valve plunger 83 to open and close the discharge opening II of the charging valve 69. The cam I29 bears against a roller I39 mounted on the front end of a short arm I3I pivotally supported intermediate of its ends upon the top end of a vertical extension I32 of the lug I I9, bymeans of a pivot pin I33. The rear end B4 of the short arm I3! is bifurcated and engaged about the extended top end of the valve plunger 83 beneath a nut I35 threadedly engaged upon the extended top end of the valve plunger 83.

The cam I29 is formed with a raised part 825", see Fig. 17, arrangedto engage the roller I39 to pivot the short arm I3I and lift the valve plunger 83 to lift the reduced lower end 83 thereof out of the discharge opening II of the valve casing permitting a quantity of the molten lead in the valve casing to discharge from the discharge opening II into the mold cavity 61 of the mold 96 located beneath the lower end of the charging valve 59. From Fig. 17 it will be noted that the high parts H4 and I29 of the cams [It and R29 are so disposed with relation to each other that the cam I I4 will first function to lower the charging valve- 69 into facial contact with the topmost mold 95, then the cam I29 will function to cause the valve plunger 83 to be raised and lowered, while the charging valve 69 is in its lowered position, to discharge a predetermined quantity of the molten lead into the mold 66, after which the cam IM will turn to a position freeing the valve 69 to be returned to its starting position by the expansion spring I2I. It is appreciated, of course, that the slight vertical movement of the charging valve 59 to lower into engagement with the topmost mold 66 and to again raise that valve 69 is permitted by the pivotal mounting of the lead pot I3.

Resilient means is provided for retaining the valve plunger 83 in its lowered position in the valve casing I9 in which it closes the discharge opening ll and for also returning the valve plunger 83 to its starting position after having been raised by the cam I 29. This resilient means is comprised of an expansion spring I 36 coaxially engaged about the upper extended end of the valve plunger 83. The bottom end of the expansion spring I36 bears against a fiat collar I37 mounted on the valve plunger 83 and the top end of the spring I35 bears against a pair of inverted L-shaped lugs I38 formed on the top face of the cap which closes the top of the valve casing I9.

The length of time that the charging valve 69 is in its lowered position and the length of time that the valve plunger 83 is in its raised position while the charging valve 69 is in its lowered position may be varied by replacing the cams H4 and I25 by other cams having differently shaped high parts I It and I29 The drive means 86 also provides the required power for turning the head 55 a distance equal to the distance between adjacent molds 56 to align the cavity 6! of the next mold with the lower end of the charging valve 69 during the time that the valve is in its raised position. This portion of the drive means 86 comprises a ratchet disc I39 mounted on the exposed face of the disc 51 which closes the open side of the head 55 and which is formed with ratchet teeth I40 corresponding in number to the number of molds 66 mounted about the periphery of the head 55. In the shown embodiment of the present inven- 9 tion, the ratchet disc I39 is formed with twelve ratchet teeth I40.

A pusher lever MI is slidably extended through a block I42 to slide relative thereto and relative to the ratchet disc I39. A pawl I43 is pivotally supported upon the front end of the pusher lever I4I by means of a pivot pin I44 and is normally disposed behind one of the ratchet teeth I40 of the ratchet disc I39, as shown in Fig. 5. Gravity is depended upon to retain the pawl I43 in a lowered operative position against a stop pin I45 which extends from the side of the pusher lever I4I below the pivot pin I44.

The rear end of the pusher lever I4! bears against a cam I46 fixedly mounted on a shaft I41 which extends at right angles to the shaft I03 at the same horizontal level. The shaft I41 is rotatively supported in several bearing blocks I43 supported on brackets I49 mounted on the top face of the plate 53. The rear end of the shaft I03 is provided with a bevel gear I50 which meshes with a second bevel gear II mounted on an adjacent portion of the shaft I41 for causing the shaft I41 to be rotated as the shaft I03 is rotated, to rotate the cam I46.

Resilient means is provided for retaining the rear end of the pusher lever MI in contact with the peripheral edge of the cam I46. This resilient means comprises a contraction spring I 5! operating between a pin I52 mounted on the side of the pusher lever MI and a second pin I53 mounted on the side of the block I42. The cam I46 is formed with a high part I46 see Fig. 5, for urging the pusher lever I4I forward against the action of the contraction spring I5I causing the pawl I43 to turn the ratchet disc I39 and in turn the head 55 through a distance equal to the space between adjacent mold cavities 61 of the molds 66. When the high part I46 of the cam I46 moves clear of the rear end of the pusher lever I4I, the contraction spring I5I will draw rearwards on the pusher lever MI and retain its rear end in contact with the peripheral edge of the cam I46 until the high part I46 completes a revolution and again engages the rear end of the pusher lever. On the return movement of the pusher lever I4I, the pawl I43 engages and rides over the next ratchet tooth I40 pivoting in a direction away from the stop pin I45. The cam I46 is mounted on the shaft I41 in a rotative position to operate in timed synchronism with the cam H4 which lowers the charging valve 69 to turn the head 55 only during the time that the charging valve 69 is in its raised position. This is essential in order that the corners of the head 55 may pass freely beneath the lower end of the charging valve 65 without striking that lower end and jamming up the operation of the machine.

Indexing means is also provided in connection with the ratchet disc I39 and operated by the drive means 86 for retaining the head 55 against any possible accidental rotation during the time the charging valve 69 is in a lowered position on the topmost mold 66 of the head 55. This indexing means comprises an indexing stop pin I54 disposed beneath the pusher lever MI and slidably supported in a block I55. The indexing stop pin I54 has a cutaway front end I56 which engages one of the ratchet teeth I40 holding the head 55 against turning in a direction to change the mold 66 aligned with the lower end of the charging valve 69. An arm I51 depends from the rear end of the indexing stop pin I54 and a contraction spring I58 has one end attached to the bottom end of the arm I51 by means of a screw I59 and its other end attached to the block I55 by means of a screw I60 for urging the stop pin I54 into an operative position engaging one of the ratchet teeth I40, as shown in Fig. 5.

A retracting lever I6I, for withdrawing the indexing stop pin I54 against the holding action of the contraction spring I58, is pivotally mounted intermediate of its ends upon the top end of a post I62, by means of a screw I63. The retracting lever I6I has one end disposed in front of the depending arm I51 mounted on the rear end of the indexing stop pin I54 to draw rearwards on the pin when the retracting lever IEI is pivoted. The other end of the retracting lever I6I is bent upwards and engaged against the peripheral edge of a second cam I64 mounted on the shaft I41 and having a high part I64 which operates in timed relation with the cam I46. The high part I64 of the cam I64 functions to pivot the retracting lever I6I to withdraw the indexing sto pin I54 to disengage the cutaway front end I56 thereof from the ratchet tooth I40 freeing the ratchet disc I39 and the head 55 to be rotated by the pusher lever I4I. The high part I54 of the cam I64 retains the indexing stop pin I54 in its retracted position all the time the pusher lever MI is advancing the ratchet disc I39 and the head 55.

The blocks I42 and I55 are disposed one above the other and retained in vertical spaced relation by means of an interposed connector post I65. The lowermost block I55 is fixedly mounted on the top end of a, vertical post I66 which has its bottom end freely passing through the plate 53. Lock nuts I61 are threadedly engaged upon the vertical post I00 above and below the plate 53 for holding the vertical post I66 and in turn the blocks I42 and I55 in desired vertical adjusted positions corresponding to the vertical adjusted positions of the head 55.

Also mounted on the vertical post I66 there is means for limiting rotation of the head 55 to one direction only, in a clock-wise direction as viewed in Fig. 5, for successively advancing the molds 66 into filling position beneath the charging valve 69. This rotation limiting means comprises a block I68 vertically slidably mounted on the post I66 beneath the block I55 and which is retained in a desired vertical position on the vertical post I66 by means of a set screw I69. A slot I10 is cut into the front end of the block I63 and an arm I11 has its lower end pivotally retained in the slot I10 by a pivot pin I12. The top end of the arm Ill is disposed beneath the tooth I40 of the ratchet disc I36 engaged by the indexing stop pin I54 and against the periphery of the ratchet disc I35 between adjacent teeth I40, as shown in Fig. 5. The arm III is resiliently retained in this operative position by an expans on spring I13 which has its rear end disposed 1n a recess I14 which extends rearwards Irom the rear end of the slot I10. The front end of the expansion spring I13 bears against the adjacent edge of the arm I1I retaining the arm I1I in its operative position against the side of the ratchet disc I39. When viewing the head 55 as shown in Fig. 5, if the head should be accidentally rotated in a counter-clockwise direction such rotation will be stopped by the arm I; however, the head is free to be rotated in the proper clockwise direction in which event the arm I1I is pivoted against the holding ac- 11 tion of the expansion spring I13 permitting the ratchet teeth I49 to idle past the free end of the arm I1I.

The side of the rotatable head 55 opposite the ratchet disc I39 is provided with an auxiliary indexing means for assisting the indexing stop pin I54 in holding the head 55 against being rotated while the charging valve 69 is in a lowered position on the topmost mold 96 and for insuring proper alignment of the mold cavity 61 of the topmost mold 56 with the discharge opening H of the charging valve 69. This auxiliar indexing means comprises an indexing ring I15 which is concentrically secured, as by welding or the like, to the side of the head 55 and which is provided on its outer periphery with twelve radially inwardly extending notches I16, there being one notch I16 for each of the molds 66 mounted on the periphery of the head 55.

Pivotally mounted on the top end of a bracket I11 there is an indexing finger I18 retained in position by a pivot pin I19, see Fig. '1. The lower end of the bracket I11 is fixedly mounted upon the fixed shaft 59 which rotatively supportsthe head 55.

The end of the indexing finger I18, closely adjacent the pivot pin I19, is arranged to engage one of the notches of the indexing ring I15 to hold the head 55 against rotating, and means operated by the drive means 85 is provided for pivoting the indexing finger I18 to disengage the end thereof from the indexing ring I15 to free the head 55 to be rotated. The pivoting means is com-prised of a depending portion I88 formed on the bottom edge of the indexing finger I18 between the pivot pin I19 and the end thereof remote from the end which engages the notches I16 of the indexing ring I15. A cam surface I8I is formed on the bottom end of the depending portion I80 which rides on the peripheral edge of a cam I82 mounted on an intermediate portion of a'jack shaft I83. The jack shaft I83 extends parallel to the shaft I63 and has its ends rotatively supported in bearing blocks I84 mounted on a base I85 in turn fixedly mounted on the top face of the plate '53. A contraction spring I86 has one end attached to the free end of the indexing finger I18 and its other end attached to a lug I81 formed on the base I85, toexert a force which retains the cam surface I8I of the depending portion I89 of the indexing finger I18 in contact with the cam I82.

Mounted on the jack shaft adjacent the cam I82, there is a sprocket I88 engaged b a continuous chain I89 which extends over a second sprocket I90 mounted on the shaft I93 to rotate the jack shaft I83 in timed relation with the shaft I93 when the shaft I03 is rotating. Rotations of the jack shaft I83 similarly rotate the cam I82 which has a high part I82 which holds the indexing finger I18 in a pivoted position, against the action of the contraction spring I86, in which its end will be engaged with one of the notches I16 of the indexing ring I15 tohold the head 55 against being rotated. However, when the low part of the cam I82 is engaged by the cam surface I8I of the indexing finger I18, the contraction spring I86 will then pivot the indexing finger I18 about the pivot pin I19 into a position in which the end of the indexing finger I18 is disengaged from the respective notch I16 of the indexing ring I15 leaving the head 55 free to be rotated. The cam' I82 operates in timed relation with the cam I64 which withdraws the indexing stop pin I54 from its engaged position with the respective tooth I40 of the ratchet'disc I39, so that the in- 12 dexing finger I18 will be pivoted to its inoperative position at the same time that the indexing stop pin I 54 is moved to its inoperative position freeing the head 55 to be rotated by operation of the cam I46 on the end of the pusher lever I4I.

For forming a square lead seal I9 I, see Figs. 12 and 13, having four parallel passages I92 formed therein, from end to end, for the reception of a sealing cord or wire I93 as shown in Fig. 13, the cavities 81 of the molds 56 are square in outline and each mold 66 is provided with a slidably mounted mold core I94, shown partially in perspective in Fig. 11, for forming the passages I92. Each of the mold cores I94 is composed of an end portion I95 integrally formed with four parallel finger portions I96. The finger portions I96 are preferably of round cross-section. The finger portions I96 are slidably disposed in corresponding passages I91 formed in the molds 66 and the finger portions I96 are of a length to extend completely across the mold cavities 61 in the pushed position of the mold cores I94 as shown at the top of Fig. 9. The molten lead is poured into the mold cavities 61 with the mold cores I94 in the pushed in position shown at the top of Fig. 9 so that as the molten lead solidifies forming the seal, the finger portions I95 form the passages I92 in the seal I9 I, as shown in Figs. 12 and 13. However, before the cast lead seals can be ejected from the mold cavities 51 it is necessary to pull the mold cores I94 outwards, to the position shown at the bottom of Fig. 9, to withdraw the finger portions I96 from the passages I92 formed in the lead seal I9I freeing the lead seal to be ejected.

Means is provided for pulling outwards on the mold cores I94, prior to ejection of the cast seals I9I from the mold cavities 61 to free the seals to be ejected. The means for pulling outwards on the mold cores I94 comprises a slidably mounted extracting rod I98 slidably supported in a suitable U-shaped bracket I99 mounted on the plate 53. The extracting rod I98 is located in substantially axial alignment with the mold core I94 of the mold 66 which is three molds removed from the mold 65 being filled by the charging valve 69, and at one end of the jack shaft I83. The end of the extracting rod I98 adjacent the head 55 is formed with a cutout 299 normally disposed in the path traversed by complementary tail portions 26I formed on the end portions I95 of the mold cores I94. The arrangement of the tail portions EDI and the cutout 209 of the extracting rod I98 is such that as the head 55 rotates one of the tail portions 29I enters the top of the cutout 299 so that when the head 55 stops rotating that tail portion will be within the cutout 209 and when the head 55 is again rotated that tail portion 28I moves out of the bottom of the cutout and the tail portion 29I of the mold core I94 of the next adjacent mold 65 moves into the top of the cutout 209.

A substantially elliptical cam 282 is mounted on the end of the jack shaft I83 adjacent the extracting rod I98 and engages a collar 293 mounted on an intermediate portion of the extracting rod I98 between the brackets I99. Conoentrically mounted upon the extracting rod I98 there is an expansion spring 284 which operates between the collar 293 and the adjacent bracket I99 for retaining the extracting rod I98 in a position in which the collar 293 engages the elliptical cam 292 and the cutout 299 is in a proper position to be entered by the tail portions 2!. The cam 292 functions to draw the extracting ro'd I98 away from the head '55 against the action "of the expansion spring 294 to draw outward on the respective mold core I94. The cutout 299 should preferably be or" a sufiicient length to permit the extracting rod I98 to be returned to its starting position without pushing in on the drawn out mold core 594 in the event the tail portion 20! of that drawn out mold core has not moved clear of the cutout 299.

Means is provided within the hollow of the head 55 for ejecting the lead seals I9I from the mold cavities 67 after the mold cores I94 have been pulled out, this ejection taking place one mold removed from the mold at which the mold cores I 1 are drawn out. Details or the lead seal ejecting means are illustrated in Figs. 7, 8 and 10 from which it will be noted that the ejecting means includes a cam 295 fixedly mounted on the fixedly mounted shaft 59 within the head 55. The cam 255 is formed at one point with a narrow high part 295 which is in radial alignment with the center of the mold 55 which is one mold removed from the mold at which the mold cores I94 are withdrawn.

Disposed radially within the head 55, there is an ejector 295 for each of the molds 95 mounted on the periphery of the head Each of the ejectors 255 is alike in construction, and each comprises a cylindrical outer portion slidable in a complementary passage 298 formed in the head 55 in axial alignment with the center of the mold cavity SI of the respective mold 65. The inner end of the cylindrical outer portion it; continues into a reduced inner portion 299 which extends into the hollow of the head 55. Mounted on the inner end of the reduced inner portion 299 of each of the ejectors 295, there is a head 2H3 which rotatively supports a roller 2| 2 arranged to roll on the peripheral edges of the fixedly mounted cam 255 as the head 55 rotates relative to the fixedly mounted shaft 59. .An expansion sprin 2I2 is concentrically mounted on the reduced inner portion of each of the ejectors 295 and operates between the head 2H] and the adjacent face of the inside wall of the head 55 for retaining the ejectors 255 in a position in which outer ends of the cylindrical outer portions 297 are flush with the base walls or the mold cavities 57 and in which the rollers 2! I engage the cam 295.

To retain the ejectors 295 against rotation and in a position in which their rollers 2II will be in proper alignment with the earn 295 to roll about the periphery thereof, the side of the cylindrical outer portion 297 of each ejector 295 is formed with an elongated groove 295 see Figs. 8 and 10, engaged by a complementary pin 55 inserted from the side of the head 55 into the respective passage 258 of the head 55 through which the cylindrical outer portion 29? extends.

In assembling the head 55, the ejectors 205 minus the heads 2IU and the rollers 2 are slipped into the passages 298 from the outside of the head 55, with the pins 55 engaging the grooves 201 The expansion springs 2I2 are then slipped onto the inner ends of the reduced inner portions 299 and the heads 2H) with the rollers 2II are then slipped into position and Welded, brazed or in any other manner fixedly secured to the inner ends of the reduced inner portions 299 of the ejectors 206.

As the head 55 rotates, the rollers 2I I will successively roll up onto the high part 295 of the cam 205 and cause the ejectors 205 to be successively urged outwards against the action of the expansion springs 2I2, as shown in Fig. 8,

to force the completed seals I9I from the mold.

cavities. Upon being ejected, the seals I9I may collect in a suitable box, not shown on the drawing, located beneath the machine, or they may fall onto a suitable conveyor, not shown on the drawing, which will carry them away from the machine. When ejection of the finished seal is completed, the rollers 2II then roll down the opposite side of the high part 285 of the fixed cam 295 freeing the ejectors 295 to be returned to their starting position by the expansion springs 2I2.

At the side of the head 55 diametrically opposite the side at which the mold cores I94 were drawn outwards, means is provided for pushing inwards on the mold cores I94 to return them to their starting position prior to refilling the mold with molten lead. The mold core pushing in means is characterized by an inserting rod 2I3 slidably supported by a U-shaped bracket 2I4, in axial alignment with the mold core I94 which is to be pushed inwards to its starting position. Mounted on the inserting rod 2I3 within the bracket 2I4, there is fixedly mounted a collar 2I5 which engages an elliptical cam 2I6 mounted on the end of the jack shaft I83 remote from the end upon which the elliptical cam 292 is mounted. The end of the inserting rod 2I3 remote from the head 55 extends for a considerable distance beyond the bracket 2I4 and a collar 2II is fixedly mounted on that projecting end. An expansion spring 2IB is coaxially positioned on the extended end of the inserting rod 2I3 and operates between the adjacent faces of the collar 2| I and the bracket 2I4 holding the inserting rod in a position in which the collar 2I5 bears against the cam 2 I6 and in which the end thereof adjacent the head 55 is at a position slightly beyond the end of the mold core I94 when in its drawn out position. While the head 55 is standing still, the inserting rod 2I3 is in axial alignment with one of the mold cores I94 and the cam 2I6 rotates extending the inserting rod 2I3 against the action of the expansion spring 2I8 to engage the end portion I95 of the respective mold core I94 and push it in to extend its finger portions I96 across the mold cavity 61 prior to its being refilled with molten lead.

In Figs. 28 and 29 of the drawings, there is illustrated a modified form of mold 56 for use on the periphery of the head 55 for molding the lead seal I9I shown in Figs. 30 and 31 of the drawing. This mold 66 differs from the previous mold in that its top face is formed with a groove 2I9, which extends from one side of the mold cavity 6'! to the adjacent edge of the mold proper, for the insertion of one end of a sealing wire 220 into the mold cavity 61 prior to the filling of the mold cavity with the molten lead. Furthermore, the mold core I94 is provided with only two finger portions I96 designed to form two passage I92 in the lead seal I 9 I From a careful examination of Figs. 28 and 29 it will be noted that the groove 2I9 is so located that the end of the wire 220 will be fed into the mold cavity 61' between the adjacent sides of the finger portions I96 so that when the completed seal I9I is ejected from the mold cavity 61 the end of the wire 229 will be anchored in the seal between the passages I92 to have its free end threaded through the passages in sealing position as shown in Fig. 31.

In order to permit the seal I9I with the end of the wire 220 anchored therein to be ejected member 52 of the frame 58.

from the mold cavity Bl" it is essential that the groove 'ZIS open to the top face of the mold 65'. A minor portion of the molten lead will how into the open portion of this groove 2E9 above the inserted end of wire 225; however, .it has been found that the lead immediately coagulates plugging .the open portion of the groove 2L! and preventing the loss of molten lead through the groove 219. The small nipple formed by this slight seepage of the molten lead into the groove 219 has not been found objectionable and if desired can be removed after the seal has been ejected from the mold 66'.

In Fig. 32 of the drawing, there is shown in perspective a portion of a still further embodiment of the mold 66" which may be mounted in the periphery of the head 55 for forming the lead seals 19! shown in Figs. 33 and 34. As in the embodiment shown in Figs. 28 to 31, the mold 56" is formed with the groove 255' for the insertion of one end of a. short length of Wire 220' into the mold cavity 6?" prior to filling the same with the molten lead. The mold core of the mold 55 is formed with four finger portions I 96" arranged in spaced pairs on opposite sides of the groove 2E9, see Fig. 32, so that when the seal i9!" is completed it will be formed with four passages i532" arranged in spaced pairs on opposite sides of the inserted end of the wire 226. The passages I92" permit the insertion of a length of cord or wire I93 in sealing position as shown in Fig. 34. After the seal ISI" has been removed from the mold $8 and before the length of word or wire I93 has been threaded into position, the free end of the wire .226 may be pointed, as indicated at 22! in Figs. 33 and 34.

The lead seals shown in Figs. 12 and 13 and Figs. 30 and 31 are of the type which can be used by the utility companies and similar concerns to seal gas and electric meters and similar boxes, while the seal shown in Figs. 33 and 34 is of the type which can be used by the U. S. Post Ofiice Department to seal bags of valuable mail. After the mail bag has been filled, the neck thereof is drawn closed and the sealing wire L93 is engaged about the drawn closed neck with the pointed end 22l of the wire 228 pointing toward the neck of the bag and as the wire is drawn tight to draw the seal [9!" up close to the neck of the bag, the pointed end '22! to be pressed into the neck of the bag rendering it impossible to slip the seal over the top of the drawn together neck of the mailbag.

The present invention proposes the construction of a-novel wire feed mechanism 222, shown in detail in Figs. 1 and 18 to 27, operated by the drive means 85 for feeding the ends of predetermined lengths of wire into the grooves 255 of the molds 68 shown in Figs. 28 and 29 or into the grooves 2E5 of molds St shown in Fig. 32, when either of such molds are mounted upon the periphery of the head 5-5 in place of the molds B6. The operation of the parts of the machine previously described is exactly alike regardless of which type of mold is mounted on the periphery of the head 55.

The wire feed mechanism 222 is composed of a track 223 comprising a bed rail 22d mounted on the front face of a pair of brackets 225 which extend vertically from the top frame Mounted on the front face of the bed rail 22 there is a pair of parallel vertically spaced rail members 225,

see Figs. .18 and 20. Between the spaced .rail

members 226, the bed rail 224 is formed with a horizontal line of evenly spaced threaded holes 221 for the passage of attaching screws for the attachment of desired operating parts of the wire feed mechanismv to the track 223 in desired longitudinal spaced positions relative to each other, as will become clear as this specification proceeds. As shown in Fig. 1, the track 223 extends longitudinally of the machine with one end adjacent the head 55 and with its other end extended from the head 55.

Mounted on the top frame member 52, beyond the end of the track 223, there is a pair of upwardly extending brackets 228, only one of which is shown in Fig. l, which support between them a spindle 229 upon which there is rotatively mounted a roller 230 having wound thereon a continuous length of wire 220 Mounted on the end of the track 223 and more particularly upon the end of the bed rail 224 there is a wire straightener formed of a plate 23! upon which a plurality of rollers 232 are mounted for free rotation and between which the end of the wire 22E) is to be drawn to straighten the same.

After leaving the wire straightener, the end of the wire 226 passes through a Wire gripper having a body 233 which extends vertically along the back face of the bed rail 224 of the track 223. The bottom end of the body 233 is secured to the bed rail 224 by several screws 234 which pass through openings formed in the body 33 and which threadedly engage a complementary pair of the threaded holes 221 formed in the bed rail 224. Thus, the position of the wire gripper along the length of the bed rail 224 is adjustable by removing the screws 234 and reengaging them with a different pair of the threaded holes 221.

Integrally formed with the front of the body 233 there is formed a wire supporting ledge 235 which projects forwardly across the top of the track 223, see Fig. 27, and across the top face of which the end of the wire 220 passes. Mounted on the side of the body 233 adjacent the wire straightener there is a wire guide 236 formed with a small wire guide hole 237. The wire guide hole 231 is of a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the wire 220 so that the wire may pass freely therethrough insuring that the wire will be properly guided across the top face of the wire supporting ledge 235 beneath the lower end of a finger 23-8 mounted on the body 233 above the wire supporting ledge 235.

The top end of the finger 238 is pivotally supported upon a fixedly mounted pin 239 which extends from the front face of the body 233. The lower end of the finger 233 is formed with serrations 2- i8 and is urged towards the top face of the wire supporting ledge 235 by a spring 2H which has one end attached to the pin .239 and its other end bent to engage the side of the finger 2'38 remote from the wire guide 236, see Fig. 18.

The spring 2M exerts a suificient pressure to retain the finger 238 in a position in which its serrations 243 will touch the wire 2253 and hold it loosely in position on the top face of the wire supporting ledge 235. The length of the finger 238 as compared with the distance between the fixed pin 239 and the top of a wire 22H resting on the wire support ledge 235 is such that the finger 238 is longer, so that when the serrations 248 of the finger. 238 are engagingth'e top of the wire 22th, the finger 238 assumes a downwardly inclined position toward the head 55 permitting a free movement of the wire 225) beneath the serrations 2% toward the head 55. However, if a force applied to the wire 22% tending to move it towards the wire straightener, the spring 24! pivots the finger 233 causing the wire 22E! to be tightly gripped between the serrations 240 and the top face of the wire supporting ledge 235 arresting any possible reverse movement of the wire.

After leaving the wire gripper the end of the wire passes through a wire guide also mounted on the bed rail 22A of the track 223 on the side of the wire gripper opposed to the wire straightener. The wire guide comprises a panel 242 secured ,to the back face of the bed rail by severalscrews 2:33 which pass through openings formed in the panel 2 .2 and which are threadedly engaged with an aligned pair of the threaded holes 22'? formed in the bed rail 224. As in the case of the wire gripper, the position of the wire guide on the bed rail 22-!- may be adjusted by removing the screws 243 and reengaging them with another pair of the threaded holes 221.

Secured to the front face of the panel 242 above the track 223, there is a bracket 22 i integrally formed with an outer body portion 245 which projects laterally from the side of the bracket 2M! towards the wire gripper. The interior of the outer body portion is formed with axially aligned passages 2&5 and 2 27 of different diameters forming a shoulder 253 between their adjacent ends, see Fig. 26. The end of the passage 246 at the free end of the outer body portion 245 is closed by means of a cap 2% secured in position upon the front face of the panel 242 by several spaced screws 258. lhe cap 229 has a portion 249 which extends into the open end of the passage 246 forming a support for the free end of the outer body portion 2 55i upon the cap 249. The cap 249 is formed with a passage 25! arranged concentric with the passages 246 and 241; the passage 255 being of the same diameter as the passage 2 1?.

A tube 252 is slidably extended through the concentric passages 246, 24! and 251 and has its ends normally projecting beyond the bracket 2% and the cap 229. The tube 252 has an internal bore 253 only slightly greater in diameter than the diameter of the wire 22$ and has its axis on the same horizontal plane as the top face of the wire supporting ledge 235 of the wire gripper, so that the end of the wire 22B may pass in a direct line between the top face of the wire supporting ledge 235 and the bore 253 of the tube 252. Intermediate of its ends and within the passage 2%, the tube 252 is provided with an enlarged collar 25d arranged to engage the shoulder 24% to limit sliding movement of the tube 252 in a direction towards the head 55. An expansion spring 255 ooaxially wound on the tube 252, within the passage 2%, operates between the adja cent faces of the collar 25d and the cap 249 for retaining the tube 252 in a position in which the collar 25 i engages the shoulder 248.

Mounted for longitudinal movement on the track 223, there is a wire feed head for inserting the end of a length of wire into the groove 219 of the mold it or into the groove 2 IQ of the mold 66 or similarly constructed molds mounted on the head 55 when the wire feed head is moved towards the head 55. The wire feed head comprises a carriage 255 extended vertically along the front face of the track 223, see Fig. 20. On its 18 rear face, the carriage 256 is provided with four rotatively mounted flanged wheels 25?. One pair of the flanged wheels 25? engages the top rail member 226 of the track 223 and the other pair of flanged wheels 251 engages the bottom rail member 226 supporting the carriage 255 for rolling movement along the length of the track 223.

A vertical lever 258 is connected at its top end to the center of the front face of the carriage for pivotal movement relative thereto by means of a pivot pin 259. The bottom end of the vertical lever 258 is connected by means of a pivot pin 26!! to one end of an idler link 26! which is pivotally connected at its other end upon one of the legs 5| of the frame 5%, by means of a pivot pin 262. The arrangement is such that the end of the idler link 26! connected to the bottom end of the vertical lever 258 will move up and down slightly as movement of the vertical lever 258 causes the carriage 258 to move horizontally to and fro along the length of the track 223.

Slidably mounted on the vertical lever 258 intermediate of its ends, there is a block 2 33 which may be secured in desired adjusted positions along the length of the vertical lever 258 by means of a clamp bolt 264, see Fig. 1. Pivotally engaged upon a stud 255 which extends laterally from the side of the block 263 there is a connector member 266. A horizontal link 26'! has one end connected to the connector 266 by means of several bolts 268. The bolts 268 pass freely through openings formed in the connector 256 and are selectively threadedly engageable with a pair of several complementary threaded openings 269 formed in the adjacent end of the horizontal link 26?. By reengaging the bolts 268 with a different pair of the openings 269, the operative length of the horizontal link 26'! relative to the connector 266 can be adjusted.

The opposite end of the horizontal link 26'! is connected by means of a pivot pin Zlil to one end of an arm 2'. The other end of the arm 21! is removably secured to one end of a stud shaft 212 rotatively supported intermediate or" its ends in a bearing block 273 mounted on the inner face of one of the legs 5! at the adjacent end of the frame 59. A sprocket wheel 214 is fixedly mounted on the other end of the stud shaft 212.

A second sprocket wheel 275 is fixedly mounted on an intermediate portion of a shaft 276 rotatively supported between bearing blocks 2?? mounted on the inner faces of a pair of the legs 5| at the opposite end of the frame 59. A con-' tinuous sprocket chain 218 engages over the sprocket wheels 2M and 215 to rotate the stud shaft 272 when the shaft 215 is rotated. The continuous sprocket chain 218 also passes over a pair of vertically spaced idler sprocket wheels 279 mounted on the inside face of an intermediate leg 5| of the frame 50 for supporting and tensioning the sprocket chain 278 in view of its length. If desired, the idler sprocket wheels 2'59 could be individually rotatively mounted on blocks vertically adjustably mounted on the respective leg 5| to be adjusted relative to each other to vary the tension on the sprocket chain 218.

Means is provided for connecting the shaft 276 to the drive means 86 to cause the shaft 276 to be rotated to in turn move the carriage 256 back and forth on the track 223 by means of the intervening linkage described last above. This connecting means comprises a sprocket wheel 2% mounted on the shaft 276 and a complementary sprocket wheel 28! mounted on the shaft 91 on the side of the clutch 98 opposed to the pulley 19 99. A continuous chain 282 engages over the sprocket wheels 288 and 281 for driving the shaft 216 from the shaft 91. The means for movin the carriage 258 is synchronized to the rotation of the head 55, so that the carriage 256 will reach the end of the track 223 during the time the head is standing still between successive rotations and just prior to the time that the mold cavity of the top most mold 66 or 66 at the top of the head 55 in alignment with the charging valve 69, is filled with molten lead. I

The end of the carriage 256 adjacent the head 55 is formed with an upward extension 283 formed with a forwardly extending Wire supporting ledge 284 which overlies the top of the track 22 3. The top face of the wire supporting ledge 284 is on the same horizontal plane with the bore 253 of the tube 252 of the Wire guide, so that the wire 228 may pass in a direct line from the bore 253 across the top face of the wire supporting ledge 284, see Fig. 18. A fixedly mounted pivot pin 285 is securely mounted on the front face of the upward extension 283 above the Wire supporting ledge and a gripping finger 286 is pivotally mounted on the fixed pivot pin 285 to pivot relative thereto. The bottom of the gripping finger 286 is formed with serrations 281 for gripping and holding the end of the wire 228 in position on the top face of the wire supporting ledge 284, as shown in Fig. 18. A leaf spring 288 has one end fixedly secured to the fixed pivot pin 285 and its other end engaged behind a lug 288 formed on the gripping finger 286 beneath the pivot pin 285, for resiliently holding the gripping finger in its operative position shown in Fig. '18. With the gripping finger 286 holding the end of the wire 228 in position as shown in Fig. 18, the wire feed head may be moved towards the head 55, and such movement will draw the wire 228 from the roller 238 through the wire straightener, across the top face of the wire supporting ledge 235 of the wire gripper and through the bore 253 of the tube 252 of the wire guide means.

The upward extension 283 is formed with a laterally extending projection 298 and means is mounted on that projection for holding the gripping finger 286 in the inoperative position shown in Fig. 21 in which the gripping action of the finger 286 on the wire 228 has been released. The means on the projection 298 comprises a block 29l which slidably supports a plunger 292 for movement towards and away from the gripping finger 286. The end of the plunger 292 is undercut as shown at 293 to engage a notch 294 formed on the top of the gripping finger 286 in the pivoted position thereof. When the gripping finger 286 is in the operative position shown in Fig. 18, the undercut end 293 merely engages the side of the finger 286 as shown in Fig. 18. The opposite end of the plunger 292 is formed with an enlarged head 295 formed with a fiat side-296, see Fig. 20, which slides across the front face of the projection 298 and retains the plunger 292 against rotating in the block -29l. A contraction spring 291 operates between a peg 298 mounted on the enlarged head 295 and the fixed pivot pin 285 for retaining the plunger 292 with its undercut end 293 engaging the side of the gripping finger 286 in the operative position of the finger shown in Fig. 18, or with its undercut end 298 engaging the notch 294 in the inoperative position of the finger 286 shown in Fig. 21. As the undercut end 293 of the plunger 292 engages the side of the gripping finger 286 above the fixed pivot 28 pin 285, when the finger is in the operative position shown in Fig. 18, the contraction spring 291 exerts a force on the gripping finger 286 which assists the leaf spring 288 in holding the finger in its operative position.

The gripping finger 286 is formed with an upwardly extending extension 299 which projects above the top edge of the upward extension 283. The extension 299 is located to engage a trip finger 388, see Figs. 1, 3 and 4, to pivot the gripping finger 286 from the operative position shown in Fig. 18 to the inoperative position shown in Fig. '21, as the carriage 256 reaches the end of its movement in a direction towards the head 55. The trip finger 388 is integrally formed with or mounted on the bracket 225 which supports the end of the track 223 adjacent the head 55.

A trip pawl 38! is pivotally supported intermediate of its ends upon the front face of the laterally extending projection 298 by means of a pivot pin 382 and has its top end engaging the adjacent side of the enlarged head 295 of the plunger 292 in both the operative and inoperative positions of the gripping finger 286. When the gripping finger 286 is moved to the inoperative position shown in Fig. 21 by the engagement of the extension 299 with the trip pawl 388, the contraction spring 29'! draws the plunger 292 toward the gripping finger 286 engaging its undercut end 293 with the notch 294 as shown in Fig. 21 to lock the gripping finger in the pivoted inoperative position.

Simultaneous with movement of the plunger 292, the trip pawl 38l is pivoted from the position shown in Fig. 18 to the position shown in Fig. 21. In the latter position, the lower end of the trip pawl 38! extends below the bottom edge of the laterally extending projection 298 to engage and be pivoted by a trip dog 383 mounted on the bracket 244 of the outer body portion 245 of the wire guide, as the carriage 256 completes its movement in the direction of the wire guide. This pivoting of the trip pawl 38! draws on the plunger 292 against the holding action of the contraction spring 291 disengaging the undercut front end 293 of the plunger 292 from the notch 294 freeing the gripping finger 286 to be pivoted from the inoperative position shown in Fig. 21 back to the operative position shown in Fig. 18, by the leaf spring 288.

A wire cutter is provided for cutting the desired length of wire from the continuous length thereof at the end of the tube 252 adjacent the head 55. The cutter comprises a rotative blade 384 mounted on a bushing 385 slidable along the length of a shaft 386. The bushing 385 is arranged to be secured in desired shifted positions along the length of the shaft 386 by means of a set screw 38"! so that the bushing 385 and rotative blade 384 will turn in a complete circle with theshaft 386 when the shaft rotates. The rotative blade 384 extends radially from the shaft 386 and is formed with a cutting edge 388, see Figs. '20 and '24, on one side of its outer end and arranged to engage the wire 228 at the ad- J'acent endof the tube 252.

The shaft 386 issupported at its ends in bearing block 389 mounted on the brackets 225 above the track 223, "so that the shaft 386 is located above the track 223 and extended parallel thereto. The end of the shaft 386, adjacent the wire straightener, is provided with a sprocket wheel 3l8, see Figs. land 28, engaged by a continuous sprocket chain 3| I. The sprocket chain 3 also engages a further sprocket wheel 312 

